Transportable storage container assembly

ABSTRACT

A transportable storage container assembly for transport by a tow vehicle. The assembly includes a trailer having a center rail with a two-point trailer hitch at the front end and a pivotable single wheel at the rear end. The trailer has a first cross channel adjacent the front end of the rail and a second cross channel adjacent the rear end of the rail. A storage container mounted on the trailer includes bottom support skids at each end that seat in the cross channels and are secured in the channels by casters that are attached to the skids through mounting holes in the cross channels. There is a jack on the bottom of the trailer rail adjacent the midpoint to facilitate the raising of the trailer for attachment to, and disattachment from, the tow vehicle trailer hitch.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional applicationSerial No. 60/294,458, filed May 30, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to construction equipment andmore specifically an improved storage container and trailer combinationassembly that allows a single user to transport a storage container backand forth to a work site easily and efficiently.

[0003] A construction industry storage container is commonly referred toas a “job box”. Job boxes can be purchased from various constructionsupply companies and some retail outlets. Most job boxes fall within ageneral size range and employ a substantially uniform design andconstruction. Job boxes are used by contractors and sub-contractors forthe purpose of carrying tools and construction supplies to a job site.The job box usually remains at the site until the project is completed.

[0004] A typical job box being 36 inches tall, 60 inches long and 30inches wide, weighs approximately 300 pounds, including the castors.There can be over 200 pounds of construction tools and supplies in thebox, making the total weight of the loaded job box over 500 pounds. Ittakes a minimum of two persons, and as many as four persons, to lift ajob box into a truck, even if the box is empty. If a project onlyrequires one tradesman and one job box, loading, transporting, andunloading of that job box still requires at least one additional person,sometimes more. Traditional loading and transportation of a job box to ajob site can be an inefficient and costly exercise for contractor orconstruction company.

[0005] A serious problem arises when small independent contractors,tradesmen, or other one person operations use job boxes. Suchindividuals cannot employ a job box at a job site without recruitingtemporary help to load and unload the box. Small companies orindividuals are often restricted to using a pickup truck with a campershell, or a station wagon, loaded down with all the tools and extrasupplies needed for the job. Consequently, it would be advantageous toprovide an apparatus and method for transporting a storage container toa job site that can be easily used by an individual.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is among the principal objects of the invention to provide anapparatus that will allow one individual to conveniently transport anduse a construction storage container. The construction storage containerand trailer assembly of the present invention allows the tow vehicle'scargo area to remain available for additional construction materials.

[0007] Briefly stated, a storage box and trailer assembly is providedhaving a single rail trailer with a pivotable, single wheel design usedprimarily to haul a conventional construction site storage container.(“Job Box”). The assembly includes a trailer that can be attached to anytow vehicle. The trailer includes a single, central beam or rail. Thereis a trailer hitch apparatus at the front end of the rail that attachesto the tow vehicle in a two-point attachment configuration so as toprevent tipping of the trailer. There is a single wheel at the rear endof the rail. The single wheel is pivotable to as to be rotated to a downposition to engage the road and rotated to an up and out of the wayposition when the job box is set at a job site. There is a first crosschannel adjacent the front end of the rail and a second cross channeladjacent the rear end of the rail. There are holes formed in ends ofeach cross channel. The cross channels are positioned so that thesupport skids on the bottom of each end of the job box rest in therespective channels. The job box caster bolts are introduced through theholes in the ends of the channels and secured in the skids to hold thejob box on the trailer. There is a jack on the bottom of the rail tofacilitate the raising of the trailer for attachment to anddisattachment from the tow vehicle trailer hitch and to raise and lowerthe rear wheel assembly.

[0008] The job box is removably attached to the trailer by the castersbut in use is left mounted on the trailer. Consequently the heavy jobbox can be attached to vehicle and detached easily by one person. Thecombination is sized to pass through a normal sized entry door ofresidential or commercial construction.

[0009] The exemplary embodiment of the job box trailer assembly of thepresent invention utilizing the job box can also be useful for any typeof small item delivery, or sample carrying. This same job box trailerassembly can be easily adapted, with the use of attachments, torecreational uses, i.e. to transport luggage, personal belongings, motorcycles, bicycles, camping equipment or the like.

[0010] The exemplary embodiment of job box trailer assembly of thepresent invention can be adapted to use with any vehicle that can beequipped with an under-frame trailer hitch, Class II-V for pickuptrucks, SUV's, and cars of all sizes. It can also be used with a pickuptruck having only a step bumper.

[0011] The job box trailer assembly of the present invention allowstransportation of a job box by an individual without extra help. Byutilizing the job box trailer assembly of the present invention totransport the job box, the cargo area of the tow vehicle can be reservedfor larger construction supplies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a side plan view the job box trailer system of thepresent invention attached to the rear of a tow vehicle;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the job box trailer system attachedto the tow vehicle and resting on the jack apparatus, with the wheelrotated up;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the job box trailer system raised onthe jack positioned for attachment to, or after disattachment from, therear of a tow vehicle;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the job and trailer, resting on thecasters;

[0016]FIG. 5A is a side plan view job box alone, with the castersremoved;

[0017]FIG. 5B is an end plan thereof;

[0018]FIG. 6 is top plan view of the trailer alone;

[0019]FIG. 7. is a bottom perspective view of the trailer two-pointhitch assembly;

[0020]FIG. 8 is perspective view of a U-shaped ball mount;

[0021]FIG. 9 is top plan of another hitch adapter for a conventionaltrailer hitch;

[0022]FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of side view of the hitchadapter;

[0023]FIG. 11 is another perspective view of side view of the hitchadapter disassembled;

[0024]FIG. 12 is a side plan view of another embodiment of the job boxtrailer system of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 13 is an end plan thereof;

[0026]FIG. 14 is a partial, side elevational view showing the screw jackand wheel assembly;

[0027]FIG. 15 is partial side plan view of the pivotable wheel assembly;and

[0028]FIG. 16 is an end plan thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Referring now to the figures, FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate onepreferred embodiment of the job box trailer system of the presentinvention, indicated generally by reference numeral 20, attached to therear of a tow vehicle V for transport. As can be seen, the systemincludes a single wheeled trailer 22 having a trailer hitch assembly 24at the front end for attachment to the tow vehicle V and a single wheelassembly 26 at the other end of the trailer. Wheel 26 is attached to thetrailer body itself by a pivot apparatus 30 so that wheel 26 can berotated or pivoted down into a road-engaging position, as seen in FIG. 1or up, as shown in FIG. 2. More than one wheel can be employed on thetrailer if it includes means for pivoting the wheels up when theassembly is resting on the ground, in use.

[0030] A job box 32 is secured to the trailer, as now will be explained.The job box 32, as seen in greater detail in FIGS. 5A and 5B, can be aconventional, rugged equipment storage box of conventional design madefrom steel, for example. One embodiment of the job box is a large,durable container, rectangular in configuration, generally 36″ tall by60″ long by 30″ in height and can weigh about 300 pounds. The job boxhas an access door 34 to allow access to the inside of the box. Theinterior of the box can be designed with any acceptable configuration ofstorage compartments, shelves or the like. One typical type box isprovided by Knaack Manufacturing, Crystal Lake, Ill.

[0031] The box has transverse bottom skids 36, 38 positioned at each endfor support. Some models may have a third skid positioned intermediateof the end skids. In the event a three-skid box is employed, trailer 22can include an intermediate cross channel or the middle skid can beremoved. The box should be provided with casters 40, which can beattached with bolts 42 or the like into the bottom of the skids to allowthe rolling movement of the box, if the box is employed outside thesystem of the present invention. When employed in the system of thepresent invention, the casters provide rolling and support for theassembly sitting on a surface S, as shown in FIG. 4. The trailer 22 isshown in greater detail in FIG. 6.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, trailer 22 has substantially rigidand stable frame including an elongated center rail 44 with a forwardcross channel member 46 and a rear cross channel member 48. The crosschannels 46 and 48 are dimensioned to snugly seat transverse bottomskids 36 and 38, respectively, and provide mounting structure for thestorage container, as will be explained. There is a set of four castermounting holes, as shown at 49, in each end of each channel. Referringback to the construction of trailer 22, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, there isa crank actuated scissors jack 50 mounted on the bottom of the centerrail, approximately at the midpoint. Jack 50 includes small wheels 51.Jack 50 is positioned somewhat toward the front end of the trailer sothat actuation of the jack raises the front end of the trailer so thetrailer hitch assembly can be attached to the tow vehicle, as shown inFIG. 2 and as will be explained below. It should be understood that theillustrated embodiment includes one central rail. However, otherconfigurations of a frames including one or more rails which provide forthe mounting of cross channels and for a stable and rigid trailer frameare included within the scope of the invention.

[0033] As shown, job box 32 is safely mounted on trailer 22. With thecasters removed, 36 seats in channel 46 and skid 38 seats in channel 48.The four casters are positioned under the caster mounting holes 49 ineach end of the channels. The caster bolts 40 are inserted up throughthe casters and caster mounting holes 49 and tightened into the skids.This unique exemplary arrangement, which is detailed in FIG. 7, providesfor secure mounting of the box.

[0034] A two-point trailer hitch assembly 24 is mounted to the bottomside of the forward channel. As best seen in FIG. 7, one side of thetwo-point hitch assembly includes a first sleeve 52 mounted to thebottom of the channel. The sleeve includes a locking pin hole 53 formedthrough it. An adjustable tongue 54 is slidably mounted within thesleeve. Tongue 54 includes a plurality of linearly aligned holes 55formed through it. The length of the tongue is adjusted to the desiredlength and a locking pin 57 is inserted through the sleeve and tongue tohold the tongue in place. The pin can be removed and the tongue slidback under the trailer frame or the tongue can be totally removed andstored, for example, in the box, when the assembly is situated at a jobsite. The tongue has a conventional trailer hitch 56 on its front end. Asecond identical sleeve and tongue sleeve combination, indicatedgenerally by reference number 58 is attached to the forward channel andspaced apart from the first tongue and sleeve combination andappropriate distance so that the trailer hitches, e.g. 56, properlyengage a pair of hitch balls appropriately mounted on the tow vehicle V.

[0035] As seen in FIG. 9, tow vehicle hitch receiver, indicatedgenerally at 72 can be adapted to provide for a two point hitch. Thestandard hitch receiver 72 is appropriately positioned and mounted underthe rear end of the tow vehicle, as known to the art. The hitch receiver72 includes a cross member 73 with a standard center receiver tube 74.Sleeves 75 and 76, which also can be referred to as a receiver tubes,are attached to the cross member 73. FIGS. 10 and 11 better illustrate asleeve. As shown, the sleeve includes a body 78 with a locking pin hole80 is formed through the body when a locking pin us used. There is amounting bracket 82 on the top surface of the body. The mounting bracket82 has four mounting holes 84. Bracket 82 is positioned on the bottomsurface of the hitch receiver cross member so that the mounting holes 84align with mounting holes in backing plate 86, having four mountingholes 87, is positioned on the top surface of the cross member and therecited mounted holes are aligned. Bolts 88 are introduced through therecited mounting holes and tightened to secure the sleeve to the crossmember. The recited holes can be threaded to receive the threaded boltor a nut (not shown) is used.

[0036] As best seen in FIG. 9, in one embodiment individual ball mounts89 and 90 are introduced into the sleeves and secured in place withlocking pins 92. Hitches 56 on the forward end of the trailer areattached to the hitch balls 93 on the ball mounts to provide a two-pointhitch.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, a U-shaped ball mount 94 as shown inFIG. 8 having two parallel arms 96, 98 and cross member 100 at one endof the arms, is attached to the hitch receiver and sleeve combination 72of FIG. 9 in place of the two individual ball mounts 89 and 90. Thecross member 100 has a central hole 102 and a first hitch ball 104 atone end and a second hitch ball 106 at the opposite end. It will benoted that the length of the cross member 100 is such that the hitchballs 104 and 106 will align with the hitches 56 on the trailer. In anyevent, the arms 96 and 98 have flat bottom braces 108 and 110 at theends respectively.

[0038] A standard ball mount 112, with hitch ball 114, is secured in thecenter hitch receiver 74. The ball 114 is removed and the threaded ballstem 116 is inserted up through hole 102 in the center of cross member100. The ball 114 is tightened down on the stem to secure the U-shapedball mount tightly to the ball mount. The ball mount 112 is insertedinto the hitch receiver 74 and the U-shaped ball mount is positioned sothat braces 108 and 110 securely abut the underside of hitch receiver72. A locking pin 118 is inserted through the hitch receiver 74 and ballhitch 112 in a conventional manner to secure the U-shaped ball mount inplace. Alternatively, the free ends of arms 96 and 98 could beintroduced into sleeves 75 and 76 (FIG. 9) and locked in place withpins.

[0039] It will be noted that the hitch receiver assemblies described, incombination with the two hitches 56 on the trailer, provide a two-pointattachment of the trailer 22 to the tow vehicle. This is particularlyimportant when the trailer has only one wheel. The two-point attachmentof the trailer to the tow vehicle prevents tipping, wobbling or swayingof the trailer when in use. Consequently, although only two embodimentsof a two point hitching assembly are illustrated and described, it willbe understood that any two point hitching assembly which can be usedwith a tow vehicle and the instant trailer is intended to fall withinthe scope of the invention.

[0040]FIG. 1 shows the job box trailer system mounted to the towvehicle, the wheel assembly 26 pivoted down in a road engaging positionand ready for towing. The pivotal design of the wheel assembly 26 isbetter seen in FIGS. 15 and 16. The wheel assembly 26 includes aconventional wheel and tire combination 119 mounted at the axle in fork120. Fork 120 is attached to a swivel 122, which allows the wheel toturn appropriately when the trailer is being towed. The swivel 122 isattached along its length to one side of strut 124. Strut 124 has aplurality of locking pin holes 126 along its length. Strut 124 ispositioned between two triangular plates 128A and 128B and mounted on apivot 130 that can be a bolt or the like. The plates have verticallyaligned locking pin holes 131.

[0041] A locking pin 132 is inserted through the locking pin holes inthe triangular plates and strut 124 to secure the strut in position. Pin132 can be removed and the fork and swivel assembly rotated up or downbetween the plates and secured in the desired position by thereinsertion of the locking pin 132. Wheel assembly 26 is attached to thetrailer center rail 44 by an L-shaped frame, indicated generally as 133,that allows the wheel and tire 119 to properly engage the surface duringtowing while keeping the job box trailer assembly substantially parallelto surface S. Any type of attachment configuration that accomplishesthat function is acceptable.

[0042]FIG. 2 illustrates the scissors jack 50 fully actuated to maintainthe trailer and job box assembly elevated above the surface S. The wheelassembly is rotated up and out of the way. With the hitches 56 attachedto the hitch balls, the jack is reversed until the rear casters engagethe surface. The hitches 56 are unlocked from the hitch balls and theassembly tilts backwards pivoting on jack wheels 51 while the rearcasters engage the surface, as shown in FIG. 3. The tow vehicle can bemoved out of the way and jack 50 reversed until the front casters engagethe surface. The assembly can be rolled on the casters to a desiredlocation. The casters can be locked to keep the assembly from moving.

[0043] As also shown in FIG. 3 the front of the trailer can be elevatedby the jack and the tow vehicle appropriately positioned under thehitches. The trailer can be moved in position under the hitches byrolling on the rear casters and jack wheels 51. The trailer can beraised with the jack to a horizontal position and the hitches 56 securedto the hitch balls, again as shown in FIG. 2. The wheel assembly 26 isrotated down into a surface engaging position and the assembly of thepresent invention is ready to be towed to another site.

[0044]FIGS. 12 through 14 illustrate another preferred embodiment of ajob box trailer assembly employing a screw jack 140 operably connectedto a retractable wheel assembly 142. The retractable wheel assembly ispivotally attached to the center rail as at 144. Wheel assembly 142includes a frame 146 including opposed angled struts 148 and 150connected by a cross brace 152 which has a centrally positioned pivotalattachment 154 for attachment of the forward extension 155 of the screwjack An axle 156 extends between the lower ends of the struts and wheels158 and 160 are appropriately attached to the ends of the axle. As seenin FIG. 13, the wheel assembly generally has a triangular configurationproviding a strong and supportive design.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 14, a removable jack handle 162 engages thescrew jack assembly. Rotation of the jack handle in a first directioncauses the forward extension 155 of the screw jack to move forward tolower the wheel assembly 142 as it rotates about pivot 130. The jack canbe actuated until the wheel assembly elevates the front of the trailerand the hitch assemblies to a desired level or until the entire job boxtrailer assembly is elevated in a manner similar to the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 2. Reversal of the screw jack causes the wheel assembly142 to be retracted to rail 44.

[0046] The wheel assembly 142 of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 12through 14 allows for somewhat easier movement of the trailer on thelarger wheels, for example, for fine positioning of the trailer hitches56 over the hitch balls during attachment to the tow vehicle or whenmoving the trailer assembly away from the tow vehicle while the frontend of the assembly is elevated, prior to lowering the front casters toa surface engaging position. Although the drawings show two types ofjack assemblies, it will be understand that these are exemplaryembodiments of jack apparatus and any jack apparatus is encompassed bythe scope of the claims. Other types of jack apparatus include, but arenot limited to, pneumatic jacks, hydraulic jacks, electric jacks or thelike.

[0047] It will be noted that the job box trailer assembly of the presentinvention can be used by a single individual to transport a job box backand forth to a job site. As can be appreciated from the foregoingdescription, the job/box trailer assembly of the present invention meetsand exceeds the objectives set out above.

1. A transportable storage container assembly comprising: a trailerhaving a frame, a hitch assembly at a first end of the frame and atleast one wheel assembly at a second end of the frame, a first crosschannel adjacent the first end of the frame and a second cross channeladjacent the second end of the frame; a storage container mounted on thetrailer, said storage container having a first bottom support member ona first end and a second bottom support member on a second end, saidfirst support member engaged in said first cross channel and said secondsupport member engaged in said second cross channel; apparatus forsecuring said support members to said cross channels; and a jackapparatus on the frame for raising or lowering the trailer.
 2. Thetransportable storage container assembly of claim 1 wherein said wheelassembly is pivotable.
 3. The transportable storage container assemblyof claim 1 wherein said apparatus for securing said support members tosaid cross channels further comprise casters positioned on a lowersurface of the cross channel and attached to the support memberpositioned on a top surface of the cross channel.
 4. The transportablestorage container assembly of claim 1 wherein said hitch assembly is atwo-point hitch assembly.
 5. The transportable storage containerassembly of claim 1 wherein the jack apparatus is a scissors jack. 6.The transportable storage container assembly of claim 1 wherein the jackapparatus includes a screw jack.
 7. The transportable storage containerassembly of claim 6 wherein the jack apparatus further comprises aretractable support wheel assembly.
 8. The transportable storagecontainer assembly of claim 7 wherein the retractable support wheelassembly comprises a substantially triangular configuration.
 9. Thetransportable storage container assembly of claim 1 wherein said framecomprises a center rail.
 10. A transportable storage container andtrailer assembly comprising: a trailer having at least one center rail,a two point hitch assembly at a first end of the at least one centerrail for attachment to a tow vehicle and a pivotable wheel assembly at asecond end of the at least one center rail, a forward cross channelhaving a first end with mounting holes formed therein and a second endhaving mounting holes formed therein and a rear cross channel having afirst end with mounting holes formed therein and a second end havingmounting holes formed therein; a storage container mounted on thetrailer, said storage container having a first support member on a firstbottom end and a second support member on a second bottom end, saidfirst support member engaged in said first cross channel and said secondcross member engaged in said second cross channel; casters positionedunder each end of the cross channels, said casters attached to saidsupport members through the recited mounting holes to secure saidsupport members in said channels; and a jack apparatus on the centerrail for elevating and lowering the assembly.
 11. The transportablestorage container assembly of claim 10 wherein the two point hitchassembly further comprises: a first sleeve on the forward channel and asecond, spaced apart sleeve on the cross channel; a first elongatedtongue member having a first end adjustably secured in the first sleeveand extending therefrom and a second elongated tongue member having afirst end adjustably secured in the second sleeve and extendingtherefrom; and a first trailer hitch on a second end of the firstelongated tongue member and a second trailer hitch on a second end ofthe second elongated tongue member.
 12. The transportable storagecontainer assembly of claim 11 wherein said first and second elongatedtongue members are removable.
 13. The transportable storage containerassembly of claim 11 wherein said pivotable wheel assembly is attachedto the center rail by a generally L-shaped frame.
 14. The transportablestorage container assembly of claim 10 wherein the jack apparatus is ascissors jack.
 15. The transportable storage container assembly of claim10 wherein the jack apparatus is a screw jack assembly.
 16. Atransportable storage container assembly and tow vehicle combinationcomprising: a tow vehicle having a hitch receiver attached at a rearend, said hitch receiver including a pair of spaced apart hitch balls; atrailer having at least one center rail removably attached to the hitchballs by a two-point hitch assembly positioned at a first end of therail and a wheel assembly at a second end of the rail, the trailerincluding a first cross channel adjacent the first end of the rail and asecond cross channel adjacent the second end of the rail; a storagecontainer mounted on the trailer, said storage container having a firstbottom support member on a first end and a second bottom support memberon a second end, said first support member engaged in said first crosschannel and said second support member engaged in said second crosschannel; apparatus for securing said support members to said crosschannels; and a jack apparatus on the center rail for raising orlowering the trailer.
 17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said hitchreceiver includes a receiver tube positioned centrally thereon and ballmount removably secured to the hitch receiver at the receiver tube, theball mount including a first arm and a spaced apart second arm with across member therebetween, one each of the pair of spaced apart hitchballs attached to opposite ends of the cross member.
 18. The combinationof claim 16 wherein said hitch receiver includes a first ball mountsleeve and a second ball mount sleeve, a first ball mount removablysecured in the first ball mount sleeve and a second ball mount removablysecured in the second ball mount sleeve, one of the pair of hitch ballsmounted on the first ball mount and the other of the pair of hitch ballsmounted on the second ball mount.
 19. A transportable storage containerand trailer assembly comprising: a trailer having a center rail, a twopoint hitch assembly at a first end of the rail for attachment to a towvehicle and a pivotable wheel assembly at a second end of the rail, aforward cross channel and a rear cross channel; a storage containermounted on the trailer, said storage container having a first supportmember on a first bottom end and a second support member on a secondbottom end, said first support member engaged in said first crosschannel and said second cross member engaged in said second crosschannel; means for securing said support members in said cross channels;and means for elevating and lowering the assembly.
 20. A job boxassembly for transportable by a tow vehicle comprising: a trailerincluding a frame with a hitch assembly for removable attachment to thetow vehicle at a first end of the frame and at least one wheel assemblyattached to a second end of the frame; mounting structure on the topside of the frame for attachment of a job box; a job box attached to themounting structure on the top side of the trailer; and a jack apparatuson bottom side of trailer frame for raising and lowering the trailer andattached job box for attachment and disattachment of the trailer to thetwo vehicle.